Butcher&#39;s chopping-block.



X ummh No. 757,483; PATENTED APR. 19, 1904.

J. 1'. NICHOLS.

BHTGHER'S GHOPPING BLOGKi uruoumn FILED JULY 22, 1903.

H0 IODEL.

um v

snoowtoz,

UNITED STATES Patented April 19, 1904.

PATENT OEFIcE.

BUTCHERLS CHOPPlNG-BLOCK- SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No, 757,488, dated April 19, 1904:.

Application filed July 22, 1903. Serial No. 166,610. (No model.) 7 i 1'0 all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosIAH T. NIcHoLs, of Portsmouth,in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Butchers Chopping Blocks; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description there of, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improvement in chopping-blocks, especially such as are used by butchers and grocerymen who retail meat.

The object of the invention is to provide a block whose chopping-surface can be rotated at will, so as to turn the meat to the most convenient and advantageous position for cutting Without having to bodily lift the meat after being once placed on the block and by which the block can be locked in any'desired position without having to lift or elevate it off its rotatable supports.

The invention will be clearly understood from the following description of the block illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof for which protection is desired are summarized in the claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the complete block. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section therethrough, and Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof.

A designates the chopping-block, which is preferably made of boxwood, as usual. This block-is centrally pivoted on a support B by means of a pin or bolt C, so that the block can be turned on the support. The block is upheld on the support by friction rollers or balls D,

arranged in upper and lower ball-races E e, the former of which is attached to the under side of block A and the latter to the upper side of support B. These ball-races are preferably annular castings arranged concentric with the bolt C and of large diameter, so that they uphold the block firmly and prevent Wabbling thereof.

The bolt C preferably has a head 0 on its under end, and its upper end is threaded to engage a threaded bore or socket-piece c in the block A, so that the bolt not only centers down upon the ball-bearings.

In the under side of block A are an annular series of holes F, which are adapted to be engaged by spring-pressed bolts Gr, passing upward through guide-openings in block B, the lower ends of saidbolts being connected to a treadle-lever H. The ball-race plate E may be provided with an inwardly-extending flange E, which is perforated at points corresponding to holes F, and similarly ball-race 6 may have a flange e perforated for the passage of bolts G. As shown, the bolts G are pressed upward by springs g, confined in the openings in block B and bearing against pins g on the bolts, so as to normally lift the latter and the treadl'e. Also, as shown, the lower ends of bolts G are threaded and passed through openings in the treadle-lever H and can be adjusted thereon by means of upper and lower nuts G G above and below the treadle-lever, as shown. I do not, however, restrict myself to the precise arrangement of springs or attachment of bolts to the treadle-lever.

The support B may be of wood or metal and is provided with legs B to raise the top of block A to the desired height. The treadlelever H may be pivoted to two of these legs, as shown at h, and is provided with a footengaging portion H, by which it can be depressed by the foot when it is desired to disengage bolts G from block A.

When the bolts G are disengaged from block A, the latter can be easily turnedon the support to bring the meat thereon to any desired position, and by releasing the treadle the block is instantly locked. It will be observed that the ball-bearings support the block at all times and no power has to be exerted at any time to raise the block A Vertically. Theblock can be locked in any position desired without raising it ofi its bearings, and it is normally locked except when the treadle is depressed. As the blockisnormallylocked, it is much safer for the butcher to work with than if it were loose, as in the latter case it would be unsteady, particularly in sawing bones, and prove an annoyance and danger instead of an assistance to the operator.

The utility of the block, its mode of use, and advantages are suflioiently clear from the foregoing description.

Therefore What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is

1. In a chopping-block, the combination with a suitable support upon which is mounted a revoluble block, of a treadle-lever pivoted to the support, and provided With means for holding and locking the block -at any desired position, all adapted to operate substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a chopping-block, of a support, a rotatable block pivoted thereon, annular ball-races attached to the under JOSIAH T. NICHOLS.

In presence of JOHN F.'HODGES, ARTHUR E. DOWELL. 

